Tenkara Grasshopper Central

Annual Tenkara Holiday Gift List

Halloween has passed and the Holidays are just around the corner. With the year coming to a close I knew it was time to bring out the Annual Tenkara Holiday Gift List for 2017. Hopefully, you will find the ultimate tenkara gift for the tenkara angler in the family. So without further ado let’s get into the gifts for every tenkara angler old and new.

Annual Tenkara Holiday Gift List 2017

Tenkara Rods

Every tenkara angler starts with one rod. If I was just getting into this whole bundle of joy known as tenkara I would want to start with the Tenkara USA Sato Rod. The Sato has been my go-to rod from the day it arrived on the market. I wrote a review on the Sato some time ago and extol its virtues every time I am out tenkara fishing. I do not just extol the Sato’s virtues to just clients but to my friends who do not have one yet.

With the Triple-Zoom feature, the Sato has three lengths of 10’8″, 11’10”, and 12’9″. This is the rod to cover almost any river from a tiny spring creek up to a freestone stream. The Sato allows any tenkara angler to own virtually three rods for the price of one. This has been one of the features that has made the Sato one of my favorites and will likely continue to be my go-to rod til the end of my days as a fly fishing angler.

The Tenkara USA Sato retails at $235.00. Get one for that angler has everything but the Sato! There is currently a Tenkara USA Sato Set which includes everything a new tenkara angler needs that retails for $252.40.

For the neophyte tenkara angler or the little one who wants to go tenkara fishing there is the Tenkara USA Iwana rod. This was the rod that I gave to my son as his first tenkara fly rod.

I love the Iwana as a beginner rod as there few moving parts. With a total set length of 12′ (360cm), the new tenkara angler has little to confuse him or her. Having a rod like the Iwana at a set length allows the angler to focus on casting and catching fish. The Iwana takes the question of proper length out of the equation.

There are a number of options when looking to purchase the Iwana. First, you can buy the Tenkara USA Iwana individually, the individual rod starts at $157.00, which in my humble opinion is not bad at all for a rod of this quality. Or you can buy the Iwana Outfit, which includes the Iwana, a spool of level line, a spool, and three Tenkara USA kebari, is priced at a welcoming $193.95

Every once in awhile a product comes into the Tenkara Grasshopper Headquarters that literally turns heads. Well, here enters the dragon. No, not Bruce Lee, although that would be pretty cool! I am talking about the Dragontail Nirvana 370z Tenkara Rod.

The Nirvana is extremely affordable at $179.99. This is a rod that I would suggest to someone looking to explore the world of tenkara. The feel of this rod is really quite nice and I have heard many great things about this rod.

I have not fished this rod much yet but as soon as I do I will post a review.

Tenkara Accessories

Tenkara Lines

There are tenkara lines and then there are Tenkara Lines. As a tenkara guide and angler for a few years there is always one piece of gear that can make or break many a day. That piece of gear is a line. There are many options currently on the market and I endeavor to help you select a line for yourself or for the tenkara angler in your family.

If you are not sure where to start when it comes to tenkara lines check out the two tenkara tips on how to select a line.

In the beginning, at least for me, there was the Tenkara USA 11′ Furled Line. I feel furled lines are the easiest line to learn tenkara with. I feel in my heart of hearts that this is correct in many ways. And now as a teacher of other tenkara grasshoppers, it is still one of my favorites for beginning tenkara anglers.

At least for me, I have found that the Tenkara USA Furled Line makes casting easier for beginners. I also find that I love the way it presents a kebari (fly) to the fish. Attachment of the furled line to the rod is very simple using a girth hitch.

The only downside to furled leaders, in my opinion, is that they can take on water and become heavy. But I will not stop using furled lines anytime soon.

When looking to purchase a furled line, at least with the Tenkara USA lines, two are currently available. One option would be the Tenkara USA 11′ Furled Line at a price of $20.95. For those with a longer rod or those with a bit more experience, the Tenkara USA 13′ Furled Line at a price of $24.95 is a great choice.

Moonlit Fly Fishing

Over the last few years, I have been trying a few other furled lines available to the discerning tenkara angler. One manufacturer of tenkara lines has definitely gotten my attention. Moonlit Fly Fishing has been creating furled tenkara lines for quite some time now and I am continually impressed with their offerings.

One of my favorite lines from Moonlit Fly Fishing is the Oudachi Furled Tenkara Line with Sink Tip. Best of all, the Oudachi comes in a range of lengths, from 9′ all the way up to 20′. The prices are also extremely affordable beginning at $16.50 – $27.00.

Level lines come in multiple diameters allowing for a range of presentation techniques. The level lines from Tenkara USA start on the small end at #2.5 and maxing out at #4.5. These lines are manufactured using a special formulation of nylon allowing for the turnover on each cast.

From my personal experience both as a tenkara angler and guide, I would suggest starting out with a heavier level line like the #4.5. With this weight, casting is much easier for the beginner. As the angler’s experience grows the weight of the level line can decrease as well.

The Tenkara USA Level Line comes in spools of 20 meters (60 ft). The spools allow the tenkara angler to cut specific lengths as needed. At a price of $19.99 a spool here is another stocking stuffer for everyone on your list.

Tenkara USA Tapered Nylon Line

My favorite line innovation from Tenkara USA is the Tapered Nylon Line. Ever since it arrived in the Tenkara USA line offering the Tapered Nylon Line has been my go-to line from day one. I think my review of this line says everything I feel about it.

Due to the fact that the Tapered Line is available in two lengths, almost every rod is compatible with any current tenkara rod on the market. The shorter of the two lines, at 11’6″ is great for rods up to 13′. The longer length is an amazing 14’9″ which is great for bigger rivers and bigger rods.

Priced at $14.00 per line you might as well get one of each to cover all the rods your tenkara angler has.

Tenkara Line Management

Line management always seems to be a major topic of discussion amongst tenkara anglers. I am one of those who has asked this question and also tried to answer as well. I am continually experimenting with line management systems finding what works and what does not. If you are still confused check out my Tenkara Tip on Line Managment.

If you are looking for a great stocking stuffer, the line management tools listed will be a quick and easy choice.

The Tenkara USA Keeper is my favorite line management system, especially when it comes to minimalism. The Keeper is more than just a line management system which makes it so useful.

Having the ability to store up to two different tenkara lines on one spool is really nice. I personally have set up one Keeper with a Tenkara USA line on one side and wound a spool of tippet onto the other side. With this system, I always have everything I need for a day of tenkara.

The Keeper also has a small pocket to hold a few tenkara kebari. With this pocket filled with kebari and a tenkara line and tippet, I am truly ready to go. The price for the Keeper, at least on Amazon is currently $13.50. Not too bad for a minimalist tenkara management system.

One of the cooler innovations in line management is the Rod Ties offered by Tenkara USA. I have been experimenting with the Rod Ties and I am finding they are really pretty cool. With a bit of experience I am finding these are one of the easiest line management systems to use.

I love the fact that the Tenkara USA Rod Ties come in a box with ties in three different lengths. Using the shorter ties works better on the Rhodo or Sato, with the longer ties functioning better on the larger rods in the Tenkara USA roster.

At a very reasonable price of $13.00 for a set of seven (7) ties, even the kids can get that special tenkara angler a stocking stuffer or Hanukkah gift. Best of all, the Tenkara USA Rod Ties can be used for other things besides line management.

Some people say a tenkara line spool is just a line spool. I have to disagree with that sentiment and I think you will as well when you see the spools from TenkaraPath. Handcrafted here in Denver, CO by one of the quintessential Colorado tenkara angler, Dennis Vander Houwen, these spools are beautiful pieces. Using different woods makes every spool unique both as a gift and as a usable item in the kit of any tenkara angler.

Offering 8 open fly spaces with a rare-earth neodymium magnet strong enough to hold up to 2 kebari per space you don’t have to worry about your kebari blowing away. Additionally, the angler can choose from a single line groove or double line groove option.

Each spool is an affordable $35.00 each directly from TenkaraPath. At this price and with the craftsmanship put into each spool this will likely become the heirloom spool of the future.

Tenkara Kebari

Every tenkara angler I know has a box of flies that appears to never have enough flies in it. Because of this, the folks at 303 Flyworks are here to resolve this issue. A very cool feature of the tiers at this Colorado-based company is that they are ardent believers in the efficacy of tenkara as a viable form of fly fishing.

Besides patterns that they tie and keep in their fly boxes for a day of fishing, 303 Flyworks offers custom patterns at the discretion of the angler.

Check out their offerings here that links to the Etsy shop they currently run.

With all the flies that you purchase from 303 Fly Works or the kebari you tie on your own, you need a box to store them. Enter the Brook Fishing Equipment Silicon Fly Box. Silicon is virtually indestructible and therefore is an amazing material for a fly box lining. Capable of holding up to 216 flies in one box there is really no reason to have more than one box.

I have been using the Brook Fishing Equipment Slit Silicon box for the last year and it has become a permanent addition to my gear. I know some might argue about using a kebari box of this size but it works so well it is worth it.

For what you get in this box the price of $35.99 may seem a bit steep. I would argue that you get what you pay for and this is one of those items that will last a very, very long time.

Tenkara Books

I am a reader of all books fly fishing. With the announcement by Daniel Galhardo of Tenkara USA, that he was in the final stages of completing his book on tenkara, it took no time for me to get very excited. With the release of tenkara – the book, and my ignorant bliss of anything but the book, my passion for tenkara was increased exponentially.

This tome of tenkara knowledge might very well go down as the ultimate tenkara resource. Daniel put lots of time and his own passion for tenkara into this wonderful repository of knowledge. Using clearly written, readable text tenkara – the book would be a perfect gift for new or experienced tenkara anglers.

Every time I read through tenkara – the book I find some little nugget of information that helps increase my catch rate of trout. I get a sense while reading the book that I am personally fishing with Daniel Galhardo. At a wonderfully affordable price of $24.00 maybe you or your special someone can get the same experience.

The Ultimate Tenkara Gift – A Guided Trip

What do you give to the tenkara angler in your life who already has all the gear? How about a guided tenkara trip somewhere like the great state of Colorado? I know this would be a gift that I would love to receive from someone. There are a number of amazing tenkara guides located in Colorado and surrounding states.

Pricing for most guided tenkara trips, whether they be half day or full day are very affordable. The guide services offered through Tenkara Grasshopper give you a wide range of waters to choose from. The tenkara angler looking for “tenkara perfect” waters or big brawling rivers can find these and everything in-between.

All current prices and available waters can be found by heading over to the Guide Service page. If you still have questions feel free to contact me.

The Annual Tenkara Holiday Gift List for 2017 Conclusions

Hopefully, you will find something for the tenkara angler in your life here. If you are a tenkara angler yourself, share this post with your special someone and maybe you will receive a special something this holiday season. I know for myself there are a few items that I would be really excited to add to my collection of tenkara gear.

Happy Holidays to everyone and may the Universe bless you in the year to come. Remember, the holidays are about family and friends, not stuff, so cherish those around you.

Note: Most of the items I have listed in this post are available for purchase through Amazon.com. Simply clicking on a hyperlink will take you to the appropriate item page.

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About Author

Graham is your resident Tenkara Grasshopper. He has been fishing the tenkara style of fly fishing almost exclusively for the last 6 years. Besides maintaining this site Graham also guides tenkara trips in the great state of Colorado.